PM calls for further efforts to manage illegal drugs and addiction

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung urged relevant ministries and the
community at large to apply more systematic measures to ensure the
effectiveness of drug addiction prevention and control, as well as
treatment and rehabilitation.

Chairing a meeting in
Hanoi on November 3 on drug addiction management, he pointed out
that drug abuse was still prevalent, with a rising number of drug
addicts.

The PM asked for further research to be conducted and effective response measures to be proposed.

He also requested prompt adjustments of the legal system to make sure
that human and citizen’s rights, as well as the common interest of the
community, are fully observed in the fight against addiction.

Along with issuing legal documents and guidelines, ministries and
authorised agencies should increase the supervision of addicts, while
enhancing public awareness campaigns on addiction prevention, he said.

At the same time, localities should convert a number
of mandatory drug detoxification centres to voluntary centres in order
to manage addicts better, he proposed.

According to a
report by the Ministry of Public Security, drug abuse is a problem in
every province, in 90 percent of districts, and in around 70 percent of
wards and communes.

The country currently has 10
drug abuse and HIV/AIDS hotspots, with Hanoi , Ho Chi Minh City and
northern Son La province recording the highest number of drug addicts
and HIV/AIDS cases, the report said.

At the meeting,
ministries and localities mentioned a number of difficulties in
implementing drug detoxification programmes, including the unsystematic
legal framework, a lack of investment and personnel, and poor
coordination between ministries and localities.

They also pointed out the high rate of relapses after rehab and the social stigma against drug addicts./.